Greatest Hits is the first compilation album by American singer Linda Ronstadt, released on December 1, 1976 through Asylum. It includes material from both her Capitol Records and Asylum Records output, and goes back to 1967 for The Stone Poneys' hit "Different Drum."
It remains the biggest-selling album of Ronstadt's career, being certified seven times Platinum (over 7 million US copies shipped) by the Recording Industry Association of America in America alone, with 1.87 million units consumed after 1991 when SoundScan started tracking sales. It peaked at No. 6 on the main Billboard album chart and also reached No. 2 on Billboard'''s Top Country Albums chart, where it remained for over three years.
The album was criticized by the Rolling Stone Record Guide for being "premature," as Ronstadt continued to have record-breaking mainstream successes for many years following this release. By the time this collection came out, however, Ronstadt had already been recording hit records (as a solo artist and with the Stone Poneys) for a decade, and there were many examples of other artists releasing greatest hits albums much sooner, such as Elvis Presley.
In terms of being released while the performer was still in the midst of their career, this collection is unusual for a major artist in that it compiled works from two unrelated labels thanks to, as the sleeve states, a "special arrangement" between Asylum and Capitol; this overlap mirrors the situation in which Ronstadt briefly alternated releasing albums between Capitol and Asylum in 1973–74 in order to fulfil her contract with Capitol.
Track listing Original release
CD reissue The CD reissue of the album was compiled with Ronstadt's second greatest hits collection and released by Rhino records in 2007 as Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 & 2''.
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1976–1977) Peakposition Australia (Kent Music Report) 22
Year-end charts Chart (1977) Position US Billboard 200 20 US Top Country Albums (Billboard) 8 Chart (1978) Position US Billboard 200 66 US Top Country Albums (Billboard) 19
Certifications
Personnel From the Liner Notes on the Original Vinyl Album.
Peter Asher: Cabasa, Cowbell, Trombone and Shaker, Hand Claps, Wood Block, and Percussion. Ed Black: Guitar, Steel Guitar Michael Botts: Drums Mike Bowden: Bass Richard Bowden: Electric Guitar John Boylan: Keyboards Richard Burden: Guitar John Connor: Harmonica Dan Dugmore: Steel Guitar Kenny Edwards: Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocal Chris Ethridge: Bass Jim Fadden: Harmonica Don Francisco: Backing Vocals Andrew Gold: Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocal, Drums, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Tambourine, Piano, Arp, Congas, Hand Claps Jim Gordon: Saxophone Gib Guilbeau: Fiddle Ginger Holliday: Backing Vocal Mary Holliday: Backing Vocal Andy Johnson: Electric Guitar Mac Johnson: Trumpet David Kemper: Drums Clyde King: Backing Vocals Sneaky Pete Kleinow: Steel Guitar Danny Kortchmar: Electric Guitar Russ Kunkel: Drums Bernie Leadon: Acoustic Guitar Daryl Leonard: Trumpet David Lindley: Fiddle Gail Martin: Trombone Shirley Matthews: Backing Vocals Marty McCall: Backing Vocals Mickey McGee: Drums Weldon Myrick: Steel Guitar Spooner Oldham: Piano Herb Pedersen: Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocal, Banjo Norbert Putnam: Bass, Harpsichord Don Randi: Harpsichord Lyle Ritz: Concertmaster Linda Ronstadt: Vocals, Tambourine, Hand Claps, Backing Vocals John David Souther: Guitar Buddy Spicher: Fiddle Dennis St. John: Drums Nino Tempo: Saxophone Al Viola: Acoustic Guitar Waddy: Electric Guitar Pete Wade: Guitar Bob Warford: Acoustic Guitar
Producers Peter Asher: 1, 4, 5, 8,10,11,12 John Boylan: 9 John David Souther: 2,3 Elliot F. Mazer: 6 Nikolas Venet: 7
Release history + Release history and formats for Greatest Hits Region Date Format Label Ref. North America December 1, 1976 Asylum Records
See also List of best-selling albums in the United States
References